Chapter 11: Pineapple

"I demand justice!" I yelled, gripping on the branch tightly so that I wouldn't fall down. Both of the boys below glance up and frowned. As if to question why I'm questioning the ranking in the first place.

Standing on the right side, was a boy with wild dirty blonde hair, elongated canines sticking from his upper lips. A band-aid on the bridge of his nose. While the other wears a white beanie, a bored look was supported on his face, a barcode under his left eye, absentmindedly swinging a yoyo in hand. Looking not at the least winded.

Both of them wore green uniforms, with badges that spelled 'Kokuyo High'.

Shifting my limbs into a better supportive stance, I braced against the tree trunk and heaved a frustrated sigh. Resisting the urge to drag my dirty hand down my face, I wondered, 'why in the world am I in a tree again?'

It may have started a week ago or way before that, and honestly, I should have seen the signs. After Tsuna and the gang came back from their cruise to Mafia Land. A total of three students were attacked and sent to the hospital for treatment. All three of them were martial arts students.

It's not like anyone didn't care about students got attacked occasionally but once in a while, gangsters that haven't kisses Hibari's tonfas for awhile would rise up again and pick up troubles in the streets of Namimori.

And lately, it got so frequent that more than a dozen students were sent to the hospital in a day.

I initially thought the attack would start with disciplinary members as it would, written in the original manga. But no, I was proved wrong as I glanced at the two boys below.

It was a typical day after school, the sun was setting over the horizon as I dragged my tired being down the street. Wringing and twisting my arm from all the carrying I had to do to restore Hibari's office, when I saw the two very familiar boys standing not too far away from me.

One wearing a vicious grin while the other just push his glasses up. We stared at each other for a tense moment, my eyes darting up and down between their faces and uniform before I promptly darted down another street.

As flattered as I am that these two were sent after me, I certainly did not enjoy the wild goose chase we had across Namimori. I swear at least half the residents that I've run through heard my not-so-pleasant swears and curses.

Ken, I forgot the boy's name honestly until his companion called him, whips out a piece of paper from his pockets and checked.

"It's right, byon." He looks up to lock eyes with me, a feral grin on his face. "You're next."

I scowled, glaring at the ranking paper. "It has got to be wrong." It was kind of stupid, considering the situation that I am in and the subject we're arguing about. But I was adamant that I was at least more competent than some members of the disciplinary committee.

I mean, I survived Hibari's wrath a few times now.

Survived an onslaught from him for a few minutes in the gym, whereas I've seen his own members couldn't even last a minute.

Got blown in an explosion, trapped with the demon and even smacked the prefect with a yaoi book. Even taunting him after.

That has got to be something right?

'How come I'm ranked lower than them?'

'Hell.' I thought as I glared at the sky. 'I'm not even in any active clubs. Why is my name even on the list in the first place?'

Sadly, Fuuta doesn't share the same thought as me. Or the ranking planet, whatever it is.

I'm not even wondering why the lack of common sense and fear as a normal person should have in me as I demanded an explanation for why I got rank so low in the list. It's not that I'm trying to boast or something, but please, I want some credit for what I've gone through thanks to the prefect.

"Come down." Chikusa sighed, pushing his glasses up again. "Or we'll come up."

I rapidly shook my head, moving to step another branch to climb higher, whining. "Can't you leave a fair maiden alone? You've already driven me up a tree."

"Mukuro demands perfection." Ken kicked the tree, his patience running thin.

"What are you? His dog?" I yelled back, reaching for another branch to climb. 'I'm so thankful that this tree is so goddamn tall.' Although I should be thinking about how to escape, but the action of going upwards and away from the two below is so so comforting.

Until the branch disappears before me, my eyes widen, my hands swipe into thin air and my body tilts out of balance. Another curse slips out of me as I dove downwards, feeling another burst of panic as I brace myself for the ground.

But instead of the hard dirt ground welcoming me, it was a pair of arms breaking my fall. I snap my head up in shock, widening again at the strong sense of familiarity.

"Kufufu" he laughs. With a growing grin, he says. "Is that recognition I see?"

"…" I gaped, tuning out my surroundings as I stared. The guy raises his brows, amusement swirling in it.

I swear to God it wasn't the eyes. It wasn't the heterochromatic orbs that are boring into mine. No, really. Even when there's a kanji in one of them. No sir.

Nor was it the almost sinful silky voice that rang in my mind. A voice that's so smooth like fine wine but still, nope.

It was the hair.

Protruding upwards and outwards, softly swaying in the wind on top of the frui- no, head.

"Kufufu, how interesting." He chuckled. "You know me?"

Instead of giving him an answer, my eyes are glued on the crown. Never straying. The way it flows in the wind is just mesmerizing that it's nuts. How can someone's hair be so hypnotic?

That is until I was abruptly dropped on the ground. I let out a short yelp before groaning in pain for my behind. Rubbing the sore spot, I look up to glare at my saviour.

"Answer me" He bends closer, looming over me.

"Well..." it was that moment when I finally realise I was in a shit situation. Scrambling back closer to the tree, I press my back flat just to get away from him. 'Why the hell is Mukuro here?'

He raises his brows in surprise but smirked and materialises his signature trident, twirling it before dipping the sharp end close to my neck, making the situation worse.

Instincts blared in my head as I remembered a scene where Mukuro possesses people by scratching them with his trident. I probably tried to ease up the tension and gave him a constipated smile. Using my finger, I pushed the weapon away, saying.

"This isn't a polite way to ask someone for answers..." The trident lurches forward, embedding itself into the bark of the tree, just inches from my head. I flinched.

"Kufufu, I wasn't going for politeness."

"Yeah." I nodded. "I can see that now." I cleared my throat and sat straighter, inching my body away from the weapon. Mukuro noticed this and lifted his foot, stomping on my shoulder, he ground his heeled boots into my flesh.

I screamed in pain, louder when he digs it in. I tried to wedge it out but it only makes it worse. The smirking asshole lifts my face up using a finger, forcing me to look at him. He raised his brow at the silent question.

The pain on my shoulder rolled in waves and I gasped for breath.

"Well..." I tried to make something up, trying to keep myself from blurting anything fatal. I can't really just straight up say, 'Well... you're actually a fictional character in my world known as Rokudo Mukuro. You have an avid love to scare people and possibly have a pineapple wife? Or skylark who's about to crash in on you and try to bite you to death.' Right?

"Well?"

"Your hair..." I squinted at him. "…It looks like a tropical fruit."

...I gave the truth. Well, half truth. There was speculation (I just read too many fics actually) where Mukuro can detect lies and I really want my right shoulder back so...

"You know? That fruit, with a crown on it. It's called pineapple." At this point, I can't distinguish whether it is survival instincts talking or my stupidity.

Mukuro's face actually turns blank. But before I could react. He twirled his trident again, smashing the hilt into my head.

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

I woke up feeling nauseous, soreness hits again and I just sighed weakly as it's starting to be a familiar feeling. Noting that I've got myself knocked out, again, I push myself up from the cemented floor and sat against the wall to take in what is laid before me.

A room, a large one, with minimal lighting, dark and dingy. Squinting my eyes I could see broken furniture piled at aside, what used to be a lush curtain ripped and speckled with brown liquid hanging haphazardly by the broken windows.

'Kokuyo Land'

I focus on the group in the middle, minding their own business. Chikusa was lying on the floor, reading a book while Ken beside him is busying stuffing himself with snacks. Mukuro however, was flipping an overly large book on his lap before tilting his head up to slide his gaze at me.

"Where am I?"

Ken stops munching to send me a glare, he was about to say something when Mukuro chuckles.

"She knows." He narrows his eyes at me. Alarm bells rang in my mind as I straighten myself, the sounds of my soles grinding against the floor and sand filled the room. Mukuro hummed and I decided to change tactics.

"Why am I even here?" I asked warily. "You send the other students to hospitals, none of them were missing."

Mukuro shifted in his place, "so you knew it was us." I instantly cursed mentally and retorted. "Of course, you attacked me. It's only normal to assume so."

"But you knew from the start." He stated. "You recognized me, Ken and Chikusa. You ran away before they could even do anything."

"They look shifty." Was my excuse. "And one of them looks like he was about to devour me alive." I glanced at Ken who snorted. I ignored him and stared straight at the teenager who seems to be enjoy our little exchange, asking again silently.

"You know the answer to that." I blinked at that, 'no, no actually, I don't.'

"Kufufufu, how is it that you, an average weak peasant, know so much?" he pondered. 'Ah. That's why.' I tried hard to keep a straight face, cursing myself for being an open book earlier. "Know what?"

"Are you Mafia?" He asks back and I replied with, "You can't answer a question with a question."

Technically, I am a bit, and I mean a bit part of Mafia right now. Since I've associated myself with Tsuna, and now Reborn has made it known among ourselves that Tsuna's gonna be the next Vongola boss. The information does put me at risk, and Reborn may or may not have included me in Tsuna's family.

Even so, the interaction and information I have does make me involve in Mafia in the tiniest way.

Mukuro chuckled again, Ken glanced at his boss before resuming to wolf down his food. Chikusa only does so much to flip a page on his book. Grabbing his trident beside him, Mukuro strides his way towards me, much to my displeasure.

His tips my chin up with this trident. "I think you don't understand what situation you're in."

"I understand very much." I quipped. "I'm kidnapped for whatever reason you have and would like very much to go home."

He pushes the sharp tip into my neck and I press myself against the wall as much as possible just so that the trident won't graze me, but the guy presses on and liquid flowed down my neck. I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth in frustration.

"And," He adds. "There's no fear."

My eyes snap open and my throat dries.

Any sane normal person would be cowering in my situation, much less a female with minimal combat abilities. But there I was, asking questions and giving retorts as if my life isn't on the line.

The knowledge that I have is both a blessing and a curse. That sense of affirmation that you know what would happen would soothe your nerves, even though the situation I'm in isn't supposed to happen. But what can I do when I know more about the boy in front of me than he knows himself?

"You must be mistaken." My voice is steadier than I liked it to be. "I'm scared out of my wits."

"Is that so?" He grinned, obviously not buying it. "Allow me to show you what true fear is."

In a split second, I got myself dragged up and slam into the wall so hard I can hear it cracking. Struggling to get air into my lungs, sliding down, I'm on all fours before the ground beneath me gave away and turns into blazing fire.

My breath is caught in my throat that I choked to scream. Crimson flames licked my skin and everywhere burns. I could see my limbs being seared, skin turning brown, shrinking with flesh and blood oozing out. I shut my eyes as it feel like it's being grilled, if that's how grilling feels like. Somehow, my guts spill out and tangle with everything.

Hot air turns back to cold one when I suddenly knocked into the cemented ground. All fours again with my forehead pressing on the floor. Breath coming out in deep intervals, I trembled so violently that my sweaty limbs buckles and falls flat.

"God." I gasped, lightly touching my arms and partly relieved that they're not charred. I tried not to think of the feeling of how my insides feel being cooked or how burning human flesh smells.

A chuckle rang out beside me and a hand harshly pulls my hair out. Mukuro gave me a wicked grin, his eyes crinkled at the edge.

"Asshole." I croaked when I finally realise that it's all an illusion. "Oh?" he pulls out his trident from behind and dips the tip under my chin. "You know it's an illusion. Are you familiar with it?" he takes a second to observe my state and just purred. "No."

He yanks my hair higher that my arms are off the ground. I let out a hiss and his grin grows wider. "Tell me, are you Mafia?"

"What do you think?" I sneered instead. Seeing that he got his answer, he smirked and kicks me into a corner.

I just curled myself into a ball, releasing a shuddering breath every now and then. Trying to will the burning sensation off my being.

For a long time, my mind was dull. Passing thoughts comes and fades away just as quickly. I may and may not have drifted off to sleep halfway.

~"Mukuro is my favourite character. He's a little shit but I like him."~

~"He's pretty kind despite his…actions I think. I mean he only acts on revenge and he took in Chrome."~

~"Cold."~

~"What do you think of Mukuro? I think the dude is just a misunderstood guy. I mean come oon, he got betrayed by his own family as a child! It should have been traumatic, opening up to people is the last thing he would do. So I'm thinking what if none of that happened at all? Would he be a nice one?"

"Dude… it's like three in the morning, you should stop taking caffeine."

"So cold."

"You're digressing, Shirl."~

~"What would it be like to be burnt to death by flames?"~

I blinked at the last thought, shaking my head in surprise at the sudden input that came out of nowhere. For some unknown reason, I huffed in amusement. Closing my eyes, I hugged my legs tighter and placed my chin on my knees.

Sunlight streamed through the windows and I noted that a day has passed. Taking advantage of natural light, I observed my surroundings more closely. Everything except for a bed, sofa, and a table were broken. Shattered glasses and blood decorated the floor, a part of the room was covered with carpet but one look was all it needs to know that I wouldn't even want to step on it.

A whimper cuts the empty silence. I snap up towards the source and just withered at the sight. Behind a grimy curtain, hides a small figure, clutching something that's bigger than his own body in a crouch. Eyes blank and glistened.

'Fuuta' I sighed. 'Of course he'll be here…'

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

Mukuro came back to see two people cuddled together. Or more of one hugging the other while Fuuta just lay listlessly in my grasp, making no signs of protest or acceptance towards my actions.

The bastard just smirks as he deposits himself on the couch, pulling out a paper sheet to cross out names. Blood dotted his clothes, it isn't noticeable but it was clear that the gang went out to beat up more people.

"Took you awhile." He says and I purse my lips.

"If you think that your little magic trick from before is going to make me loathe you." I hugged Fuuta tighter. "It's not going to work."

Mukuro perks at that, switching his attention to my corner. His eyes were wide, as if stunned, unlike his usual slanted gaze. Due to that, I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, wondering if I've said something wrong. Silence soon follows and it was starting to get really unbearable that I blurted.

"Does it naturally stick out like that or you tie it up using a band or something?" I've been actually looking forward to this conversation when I've first step into this world. Since there's nothing much to exchange between us two, might as well use this chance to know.

"What?" He snapped out of his stupor.

"Your hair. Is it natural?"

"…"

"Were you born with it or you have some kind of fascination towards pineapples?" I continued, sliding down the wall a bit to get comfy as I take in the boy's change in expression. I kind of didn't want us to have kind of negative energy after this. It was an idiotic move considering that he threw me into scorching flames the other day but hey, truth to be told.

I've been through worse.

I wasn't really expecting an actual answer but I didn't think that Mukuro would look taken aback. He actually looks like he just swallowed something sour, and confusing. And weird.

I'm kind of proud that I manage to garner such a reaction from the very twisted boy.

He stares at me as if I some sort of alien that just landed on earth and have some obligation to study pineapples. I mentally shrugged. It's kind of true anyway. But instead of weirding him out more I decided to just stare right back. Focusing mainly his eyes.

With the distance between us, I couldn't observe as well as I wanted but memories of how they narrowed in amusement flash in my mind yesterday. His blue one, dark blue one, is like looking into the deep sea. Somehow swirling yet there's this flicker of light in it even though the place has no electricity nor light.

His other eye has this really pretty crimson red, yeah blood red but I've never seen one like this. Okay, he got it through some shit-hole hell experiment, granted but that doesn't mean you have to look at it as if it's some kind of a cursed taboo. I wonder if Mukuro hates his eye.

"Has anyone told you that your eyes are really pretty?" I asked the boy, breaking the silence.

"I couldn't answer you yesterday because of how pretty they are." 'Lies, you were staring at his pineapple crown.' I rolled my eye but still went along with it.

Mukuro frowns for a second and immediately scowls.

"Don't act so familiar with me." He stands up and Fuuta stiffens, the small boy immediately starts to tremble again and hours of soothing. Mukuro snatches his trident up, but at the same time, screams rang out, coming from the room's exterior.

The door bang opens soon after, crashing against the walls so hard that dust slips down. Fuuta whimpered despite his expression bears no emotion, but I still hug him tighter nonetheless.

"About time." I lowly grumbled, eyes glued to the silhouette by the door. Silver-blue eyes scanned the area.

We made eye contact and I think the guy didn't expect to see me here. 'Surprise.' I mentally conveyed the message.

Mukuro called out his name and Hibari just shifts his stance, a blood thirsty grin on his lips, ready for another fight. But of course, I didn't expect him to win, not when Mukuro pulled out the sakura card so early in the game.

So, hours were spent on me covering Fuuta's ears from the sound of a one-sided beating. Hibair's blood was added to the many colours on the floor, it got so much that it was getting a bit retching.

Until the greatest thing happened.

Mukuro steps over Hibari's body and crouches down, straddling him. He leaned down to the other's face while sticking his trident up Hibari's chin who have no choice but to lift his chin. Decreasing the inches between their lips. Their breath just ghosting over each other. And having Hibari out of breath just adds fuel to the fire.

"Holy shit." I gasped. "That's so hot."

They both snap their head at me and I immediately realised that I've said that out loud. "I-I mean, ohh nou…" I saw Hibari's eye twitch despite having blood coated over it.

'Too late for that you idiot.' I snapped at myself. 'Oh my god, I'm going to get myself killed.' I rubbed my face as a rush of embarrassment took over. I'm in a very dangerous situation, got myself mentally tortured a few hours ago, yet I'm indulging myself the moment I see a fangirl worthy moment. Insanely foolish of me…But I still can't help but wish I have a camera.

I glance up to see them still in the same position and I had to dig in into my thighs just to stop myself from grinning like a pervert. Mukuro narrows his eyes at me but resumes what he wanted to say to the prefect.

Hormones are singing in my veins that I didn't have the heart to listen. 'Breath in…Breath out… Calm yourself Shirl.' I suck in a deep breath again and made a wrong choice to look at them because I accidentally breathed in too deep and choked. 'Jesus Christ. Somebody help me. Breathing is so not workinggg-OMG closer pleaseee'

I can't believe that I was starting to feel grateful that Mukuro brought me here. Despite the things he made me go through, I couldn't control myself from being too happy and high with the sight in front of me.

That was until Mukuro proceeds to stand up straight and gave a harsh kick to Hibari, sending him away and down into a hole in the ground. I winced when a dull thud was heard as his body crashed into the ground.

A hand reaches out to snatch Fuuta away from me and before I would react, my body was dragged and tossed into the hole as well.

Rolling on the broken debris, I hissed as something sharp scraps against me. Landing flat on the ground, I groaned as I push myself up. Feeling a small spark of accomplishment that I wasn't knocked out cold at the impact.

But when I saw Hibari narrowing his eyes at me, I resented that tiny accomplishment.

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

Meanwhile

Tapping his pencil repeatedly against his paper with a hand propped under his chin, Tsuna could feel an oncoming headache as he stared at the foreign equation.

A minute ticks by and he snaps. Flopping down onto the wooden charred table, he cried "I don't get it Reborn!"

Cue electric shock.

Tsuna yelped as electricity runs through him, causing him to collapse onto the floor and spasm. When it has finished running it's course, the brunet bounces back up and screamed. "Reborn!"

The baby hummed as he flipped a page in his book. "You have math quiz coming up Dame-Tsuna. I expect you to ace it." The boy paled at that before slamming his palm on the table. "This isn't covered in the quiz! How did you know anyway? And we've been doing maths since I got back from school, it's nine now!"

"You only manage to do five questions," Reborn says, his propped up leg swaying in the air. "It's barely enough." Scratching his head furiously, Tsuna gives up arguing for freedom. Picking up his pencil again, he slides his upper body on the table. But instead of looking at the paper as he should be, he stares at his phone.

It's been hours since he secretly sent a message to Shirley when Reborn went downstairs to fetch himself a cup of coffee, complaining how unfair the baby is again. Normally, the girl would reply instantly, laughing at his misery but sometimes offers a few words of encouragement.

Silent and still, no blinking lights or any indication that he has unopened message, he pouts. He stares at it until it buzzed, emitting his chosen ringtone. Tsuna shot up, not minding if she decides to call instead of messaging him back. He would love the distraction very much.

Snatching his phone, Tsuna flips it open to answer the call. Only to have dread fill him at the caller's name.

"Hello?" Tsuna's voice shook. "Dairi-san." Reborn seems to notice this, setting down his book, he watched as his student's face paled to a degree he'd never seen before. The look of sheer horror on his face was enough to set Reborn on his feet, Leon crawling onto his shoulders.

"I'll look for her!" Tsuna shouts into the phone. "I might- I might know where she is!" The call ended after, and immediately Tsuna stands up to hastily pull on his jacket. "What's wrong?"

"Shirley." Tsuna answered, reaching for his phone with trembling fingers. "It-It happened again, Reborn. I got to- I have to look for her."

"I'll finish maths tomorrow," Tsuna crosses the room, swinging the door open with more force than necessary. "I promise."

Tsuna took a step out of his room before feeling a weight on his shoulders, he turn to see Reborn standing beside his head. Not even going to question him, Tsuna threw a few words towards his mother and bolted out the house.

Namimori Middle School's rooftop was the first place he reached. But it was empty, he runs around the space just to be sure before heading to other places.

No signs of her at the park. No signs of her at the streets. No signs of her at the fields they use to lay on. Nor was there at shops, house, buildings.

"I don't see her anywhere, Tsuna." Yamamoto says, hands on his knees as he looked at the brunet in worry. "Me either, Jyuudaime." Gokudera pants, having to run across Namimori in search of the missing female.

"Maybe she's at a friend's place Sawada." Ryohei tries as something his dear sister, Kyoko, would bring some of her friend to sleepover. And more often than not, Shirley was there as well as a girl named Haru.

Tsuna curls himself on the ground, his fingers tapping furiously on his phone, in hopes to find his female friend faster. "No." He shook his head, voice slightly breaking at the end. "I've called, she's not there."

"B-But we've searched everywhere!"

Tears welled up in Tsuna's eyes, worry and fear pulling on his heavy heart as he releases a shuddering breath. He couldn't hear anything else other than his loud thundering heart in his ears.

'Not again.' Where did he go wrong this time?

He's confused. She looks fine the past several days. Much better than the time they talked at the school's courtyard.

'I thought-I thought I've stopped it. She, she looks happy. What did I miss?'

Tsuna bit on his lips, furiously wiping his tears away and stood up.

'She promised...' He convinced himself. 'She promised.'

"She has to be somewhere," Tsuna says with conviction. 'Somewhere…and alive.'

"That woman," Gokudera growled. "Where the hell could she be?"

"Tsuna," Reborn says after a moment of silence. "It could be this." He holds up a piece of cut out newspaper. Tsuna all but snatch from the baby's hands.

His heart drops as he reads the title.

Injured student of Namimori Middle claims he was assaulted

The same statement was recorded from several other students that also suffered heavy injuries. Police suspects that these acts may be conducted by the same group of-

The paper proceeds to crumple up. Tsuna stayed silent, his lips tightly pursed and fisted hands trembling while the group around pass worried looks at each other.

Reborn takes in the look in his student's eyes and slightly frowned. But the fire of determination gleaming brightly in his student's eyes was good enough for Reborn to not think about a book he'd found at Shirley's desk.

For now.

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

Tsu-chan is just worried that his best friend thought jumping off a building would be a good surprise for him and his heart :)

Tsuna and Shirley's interactions will be minimal for now cuz I wanna get into the plot. But NO WORRIES, after this one, they'll be a lot and lots of personal…scenes too. ^^

Mukuro finally pops out :DD We have the whole collection now. Oh and I've said before that I've actually decided Shirley's pairing. I'll write it in my cover…soon. I've finally change my tags too haha I guess family and general doesn't go with the contents of my story.

Now to reply reviews!

To: LetTheWorldHonorTheFallen: Maybe? Maybe not? I do intend Gokudera go back play the piano but on his own or with Shirl's help I haven't decided yet :3

To Ghostisreading: Glad to see you enjoyed the extra, I was afraid that no one would like it. Thank you!

To xenocanaan: Thank you! I'm glad you like it!

To Kiku-Pyon: I TOTALLY forgot that Gokudera is an UMA fan omg. Seriously. You just reminded me hahaha. Gokudera at this point doesn't have much people to trust on, including Tsuna, so yeah Shirl's trying to help in that department.

To Kayen1024: ^^ You'll see after this…Mukuro arc, soon I think. Look forward to it!

To FAWorks: I'm not offended haha, everyone has their own preferences ^^ but I'm glad I didn't make you uncomfortable with the yaoi stuff, (they're all in our fujoshi's head anyway) I'm so happy that my story and writing style is to your favour! I sometimes think that it might be too much but seems not! Thank you for giving my story a chance. Please look forward to my future updates!

To Iris my Beloved: I've updated! Yay :D I'm glad you liked those extra moments! Look forward to more in the future chapters!

Please leave a review! They're my motivation to type, they're my joy! Suggestions are welcomed too!

Reviews are my fuel! Fuel my deprived soul, my so so lovely readers!

See you in the next chapter!